The stage is set for Gonzalo Higuaín to ink a new contract with Real Madrid after the meeting held between the player's father, Jorge, and Real Madrid's Director General, José Ángel Sánchez, this Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu.A deal is very close.

Madrid is set to award the striker improved terms, taking his annual wage from ¤3.5m to ¤4.5m, putting him in the same bracket as his fellow forward Karim Benzema.

Even if a final agreement is reached at the Bernabéu, nothing is expected to be formalised until the trip to Los Angeles, where Florentino Pérez wants to meet with the player to tell him how highly the club values him. This is the reason the Whites have been open to negotiating an improved deal, despite the striker having previously penned a contract extension until 2016 just two years ago.

The path was laid for the Argentine's new contract at the end of May, when Higuain's future was still up in the air. Both Mourinho and Sánchez made it clear to the player that he wouldn't be going anywhere and he would be rewarded for his performances during the season. Moreover, the Portuguese supremo told Higuaín that the slate would be wiped clean in the battle between him and Benzema to be Real Madrid’s starting number 9.

This, coming on top of the affection the player has been shown by the rest of the squad and the fans, ultimately convinced Higuaín that Madrid is still the best place for him.